Tag Archives: World Religion and the Chakras

5. Belief

Taoism

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30_Taoism - Sacral

Sacral Chakra – Harmony of Opposites – Belief

The sacral chakra embodies the harmony of opposites seen in Taoist belief. The Tao, or the way, sees everything in terms of Yin (receptive earth) and Yang (expansive sky.) The dots within the Taoist symbolrepresent aspects of the other. Taoists see life as a continual balance between Yin and Yang, any shift to one extreme will be self-defeating.

In the Taoist creation myth, Wu-Ji is the limitless space that produces Tai-Ji as the delineating force, thus creating sky (Yang) and earth (Yin). Sky and earth rejoin when man (Yang) and woman (Yin) consummate and become one.

Taoism is based on indigenous beliefs in China dating as far back as 5000-3000 BCE. Women, or Wu shamans were the primary healers, rainmakers and dream interpreters. Chinese culture moved from matriarchy to patriarchy when the focus shifted to morally perfected Sage-Kings. The heavenly FuXi Bagua was created around 2500 BCE. Lao Tzu (590 BCE) is considered the father of Taoism. He is credited with writing the Daodejing or “Book of the Way and its Power.” The sacral chakra helps us balance our duality by seeing that we are one.

Message: Find harmony in our life by embracing the opposites within us.  Step out of being right and wrong by allowing our life to flow. Become the observer. Go outside or near water to help open our mind to new ways of seeing and being that are waiting for us to experience.

“The softest things in the world overcomes the hardest things in the world.” – Lao Tzu 

The Bagua, used in Feng Shui, is made up of eight trigrams. The combination of open Yin lines and solid Yang lines represents the eight aspects of nature. The Bagua legend tells of a time when Yang/sky joined with Yin/earth to creat three daughters and three sons. Each family member represents an aspect of nature that is in constant motion. This formed the basis of the I-Ching, the oldest divination system still in use today.

The King Wen Bagua – 1150 BCE

  • South/Summer – 2nd Daughter Li – Clinging/Lightgiving – Fire
  • Southwest/Summer – Mother Kun – Receptive/Devoted -Earth
  • West/Fall -3rd Daughter Tui – Joyous/Joyful -Lake/Marsh
  • Northwest/Fall – Father Ch’ien – Creative/Strong – Heaven/Sky
  • North/Winter – 2nd Son Kan – Abysmal/Dangerous – Water
  • Northeast/Winter – 3rd Son Ken – Still/Immovable – Mountain
  • East/Spring – 1st Son Chen – Arousing/Movement -Thunder
  • Southeast/Spring-1st Daughter Sun – Gentle/Direct – Wind/Wood

If you liked what you read and want more... you may be interested in having the actual guidebook and card deck. The 134 page full-color book is sold separately from the cards. My goal is to find a publisher who can offer this as a set. In the meantime, you can purchase either the book or cards via these links. Thank you for your support. Laural

Mandala Chakra book available at: Amazon

Mandala Chakra card deck available at: Printers Studio

If you wish to gift one of my mandalas to a friend or hang in your home or office they are available in my online gallery: Ink Drop Arthaus

Photo by – Nina Riel from Shuffle Tarot.

For more information visit: lauralwauters.com

5. Belief

Hinduism

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31_Hinduism - Solar Plexus

The solar plexus chakra reflects the sacred Agni fires of Hinduism. The word Hindu comes from the Persian word Sindhu, for the Indus River. Around 1500 BCE, the Rig-Veda (Rig “to praise”, Veda “knowledge”) was written. The first God mentioned in the Rig-Veda was Agni, the God of fire and wisdom. Agni serves as the messenger God between man and the heavens. Offerings, also known as sacrifice, are given to Agni fires to carry blessings on paper or used to carry the soul after death.

Atman is the Hindu word for Soul. Brahman is the “spirit” of the Atman.

The spirit of the soul is expressed through multiple deities “the shining/divine ones.”

Some Hindus are followers of Shiva (Destroyer God) or Vishnu (Preserver God), Brahman is the unifying “spirit.” Hinduism is not one unified religion but a diverse set of practices and beliefs that evolved over time. Many Hindus consider their religion as an “eternal path” or “sanatama dharma.”  Reincarnation is a central belief for all Hindus. The Atman or Soul, as the divine self, is eternal. The soul is affected by karma (action). When the soul reincarnates into a human body, a person’s actions create reactions. This is the eternal law of karma, which impacts future incarnations. This cycle of reincarnation is called Samsara where the soul is reborn over and over again according to their karma.

The goal is to achieve liberation (moksha) and be free from Samsara. Agni fires are used to help clear karma within our lifetime and to lift the karma of our soul between lifetimes. Our solar plexus asks that we feed our digestive Agni fire carefully and mindfully.

Message: We must use our power and wisdom to transform our life. Become aware of our actions and reactions. Are our actions aligned with our soul? If they are not, find the courage to change. Believe in ourself and the power we have to take the necessary actions to accomplish our dreams.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi 

The Hindu symbol is the mantra AUM. The large lower curve symbolizes the waking state. The upper curve is the state of deep sleep. The middle curve is the dream state. The dot is the blissful state of consciousness. A semi-circle (maya) separates the dot from the other three curves. The illusion of maya prevents the seeker from obtaining the blissful state. Moksha occurs when you conquer this illusion through yoga.

If you liked what you read and want more... you may be interested in having the actual guidebook and card deck. The 134 page full-color book is sold separately from the cards. My goal is to find a publisher who can offer this as a set. In the meantime, you can purchase either the book or cards via these links. Thank you for your support. Laural

Mandala Chakra book available at: Amazon

Mandala Chakra card deck available at: Printers Studio

If you wish to gift one of my mandalas to a friend or hang in your home or office they are available in my online gallery: Ink Drop Arthaus

Photo by – Nina Riel from Shuffle Tarot.

For more information visit: lauralwauters.com

5. Belief

Buddhism

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32_Heart Chakra - buddhism

The heart chakra embodies the Buddha, who taught that peace comes from within. Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) was born a Hindu Prince in 623 BCE. His father, a warrior king, sheltered him from the world. Siddhartha left the palace and saw an old man, an ill man, a dead man, and a suffering man. He feared that suffering was the inevitable end of life and renounced himself as Prince. He dedicated his life to seek the meaning of suffering. After years of searching he entered a cave to meditate on the answer. He stopped eating and drinking to go to the edge of death for answers.

A girl found Siddhartha dying and convinced him to drink. She fed him until he was strong enough to walk out of the cave. Siddhartha saw that death would have stopped him from understanding the meaning of suffering or sharing his insights with others. On his 35th birthday, Siddhartha sat under a Bodhi tree to contemplate life. When a seedpod fell on his head, he saw that he had the choice to feel hurt or to see this as a gift. He chose to free himself of suffering. This awareness of choice transformed him into the Buddha or “Enlightened One.” Buddha taught for almost 50 years until his passing at the age of 81. Statues of Buddha were created for people to remember the Buddha within them. Buddhism is a form of positive atheism as he renounced the idea of god. He believed in the laws of karma and reincarnation. The heart chakra reminds us that we are what we believe.

Message: We have the choice to let go of any belief that limits us. Look deep within our heart and see that everything we need is within us.  By seeing that we are the source of love we will be open to loving ourself and others.

“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.” – Buddha 

The Dharma chakra or eight-spoked wheel encompasses Buddha’s teachings. The four gates symbolize the Four Noble Truths; the spokes represent the Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths:

  • 1. Suffering exists.
  • 2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires.
  • 3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases.
  • 4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the;

Eightfold Path:

  • 1. Right View
  • 2. Right Intention
  • 3. Right Speech
  • 4. Right Action
  • 5. Right Livelihood
  • 6. Right Effort
  • 7. Right Mindfulness
  • 8. Right Contemplation

If you liked what you read and want more... you may be interested in having the actual guidebook and card deck. The 134 page full-color book is sold separately from the cards. My goal is to find a publisher who can offer this as a set. In the meantime, you can purchase either the book or cards via these links. Thank you for your support. Laural

Mandala Chakra book available at: Amazon

Mandala Chakra card deck available at: Printers Studio

If you wish to gift one of my mandalas to a friend or hang in your home or office they are available in my online gallery: Ink Drop Arthaus

Photo by – Nina Riel from Shuffle Tarot.

For more information visit: lauralwauters.com

5. Belief

Judaism

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33_Judaism - Throat

Judaism is associated with the throat chakra for it was a voice that spoke to Abraham in Sumeria asking him to renounce all other deities and believe in one God (monotheism). It was a voice that also spoke to Moses asking him to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt into the Promised Land. This voice also gave Moses the Ten Commandments and instructed him to build the Ark of the Covenant and a Menorah.

The “children of Abraham” shared their stories in the oral tradition from one generation to another. Between 586BCE – 130ACE these oral stories were finally written onto paper. The first five books are known as the Torah, Genesis is the first book.

Throughout Genesis, it is the “voice of god” that created heaven and earth, and the “breath of life” that created Adam and Eve. This voice that cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden was originally known as El, Elohim, YHWH, Adonai, Elijah etc. The ancient Sumerian lord of wind named El may have inspired this story. Judaism contains the roots of belief in one God, from which Christianity and Islam grew. The Jewish people are seen as direct descendants of Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah. Muslims are descendants of Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar.

Judaism’s roots are also connected to the mystical traditions of the Kabbalah, known as the Tree of Life. Studying the Kabbalah is a process of receiving and revealing wisdom from and for the self and soul to join in spiritual oneness. The roots of this story were forced underground. The throat chakra reminds us to consciously heal the stories we have received from our ancestors so we can reveal them to future generations.

Message: It is time to tell our story and speak our truth. Whatever has been preventing us from sharing the wisdom we hold is now releasing. Remember the person within us that desires to be heard. Speak up and make our dreams known. Our opinion matters; share it.

“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” – Genesis 2:7 

The Star of David begins with the legend that this star was on King David’s shield. The top triangle strives upward, toward the sky, while the lower triangle strives downward, toward earth.  A ring of menorahs, seven-branched oil lamps are symbolic of the Tree of Life, surrounding the Star of David. The setting is at night in honor of the Jewish lunar calendar. The crescent moon signals the beginning of a new month. The Jewish day begins at Sunset.

Exodus 25:31-40 – “You are to make a menorah of pure gold. It is to be made of hammered work; its base, shaft, cups, ring of outer leaves and petals are to be of one piece with it. It is to have six branches extending from its sides, three branches of the menorah on one side of it and three on the other. On one branch are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a ring of outer leaves and petals; likewise on the opposite branch three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a ring of outer leaves and petals; and similarly for all six branches extending from the menorah. On the central shaft of the menorah are to be four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its ring of outer leaves and petals. Where each pair of branches joins the central shaft is to be a ring of outer leaves of one piece with the pair of branches -thus for all six branches. The rings of outer leaves and their branches are to be of one piece with the shaft. Thus the whole menorah is to be a single piece of hammered work made of pure gold. “Make seven lamps for the menorah, and mount them so as to give light to the space in front of it. Its tongs and trays are to be of pure gold. The menorah and its utensils are to be made of sixty-six pounds of pure gold. See that you make them according to the design being shown you on the mountain.”

If you liked what you read and want more... you may be interested in having the actual guidebook and card deck. The 134 page full-color book is sold separately from the cards. My goal is to find a publisher who can offer this as a set. In the meantime, you can purchase either the book or cards via these links. Thank you for your support. Laural

Mandala Chakra book available at: Amazon

Mandala Chakra card deck available at: Printers Studio

If you wish to gift one of my mandalas to a friend or hang in your home or office they are available in my online gallery: Ink Drop Arthaus

Photo by – Nina Riel from Shuffle Tarot.

For more information visit: lauralwauters.com

5. Belief

Christianity

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34_Christianity - Third Eye

The third eye aligns with the wisdom teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who is believed to have lived in the land of Galilee (1-34 CE, modern day Palestine and Israel). Jesus was born into a Jewish family during a time of Roman rule. Around the age of thirty, Jesus began teaching that the“Kingdom”was within everyone. This was contrary to Jewish belief and Roman law. He taught Jews, Gentiles (half-Jews) and Samaritans (non-Jews) to know and believe that the divine was within them.

He freely shared his insights regarding non-judgment, humility, compassion and forgiveness with everyone. He felt that money, greed and power had blinded people from knowing their truth.

Most people saw Jesus as a teacher, Rabbi or rebel. Others called him the “King of the Jews”. When Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the annual Jewish Passover Festival he was arrested and brought before the Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate who asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”  When Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world” Pilate had him crucified for challenging Roman authority.

After his death some saw Jesus as the Messiah or Christ. Christ is Greek for Christos, meaning “the anointed one”. Most Jewish leaders felt that Jesus hadn’t fulfilled the messianic prophecy of reclaiming Jerusalem.

In 110 CE, Father Ignatius used the term “Katholikos”, an Aristotelian word meaning: “throughout the whole, of the four winds”, to describe his followers. Romans persecuted both Christians and Jews until 313 CE. The Roman Emperor Constantine gathered the First Council of Nicaea in Turkey, in 325 CE, to define who Jesus was. They officially named him Christ, Son of God thus creating Christian doctrine.

Some followers of Jesus were Gnostics (knowers) who felt he encouraged people to seek the spiritual knowledge already within them. Our third eye reminds us to trust in ourselves as we seek the divine wisdom that lives within each of us.

Message: Look within for the answers we seek. Trust that our inner knowing will guide us through these difficult times. If we are feeling pulled in two directions, this is a time to practice seeing with our heart and listening to our soul for guidance.

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” – Jesus – Mathew 6:22

The cross is often used the symbol of Christianity as a reminder to Christians of the resurrection of Jesus after being crucified. This cross is in a vesica piscis to symbolize Jesus as human and divine, born from the womb of his mother. Jesus is often referred to as a fisher of men.  The Vesica Piscis is a symbol for birthing a new way of seeing.

If you liked what you read and want more... you may be interested in having the actual guidebook and card deck. The 134 page full-color book is sold separately from the cards. My goal is to find a publisher who can offer this as a set. In the meantime, you can purchase either the book or cards via these links. Thank you for your support. Laural

Mandala Chakra book available at: Amazon

Mandala Chakra card deck available at: Printers Studio

If you wish to gift one of my mandalas to a friend or hang in your home or office they are available in my online gallery: Ink Drop Arthaus

Photo by – Nina Riel from Shuffle Tarot.

For more information visit: lauralwauters.com

5. Belief

Islam

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35_Crown Chakra - Islam

The crown chakra aligns with the “dreams” that inspired Islam. A series of “night visits” (visionary dreams) between the Archangel Gabriel and the Prophet Muhammad began a spiritual movement that is now the second largest religion in the world. Islam is one of three “Abrahamic” faiths.

Ishmael and Isaac were the sons of Abraham. Ishmael is the elder son, born of Hagar. Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, is believed to be a descendent of Ishmael. He was born in Mecca in 570 ACE.  Orphaned as a child, he began receiving visions during dreamtime at the age of 40. The archangel Gabriel, is seen as a messenger angel in all three faiths.

At the age of forty-one, Muhammad experienced what is known as the “Night Journey.” The Archangel Gabriel came to Muhammad during the night and invited him to ride the winged horse of Abraham named Buraq. They flew over the Holy Lands until they came to the Heavenly Lote Tree rooted in Jerusalem. Gabriel then introduced Muhammad to Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others who spoke of the original stories. When he entered the 7th heaven, he saw a luminous canopy of leaves. It was here that he learned of the universal spirit and divinity in everyone. In 630 CE, Muhammad reclaimed Mecca and worshipped Allah as the Lord of the Kaaba. Muhammad died in 632 ACE. The Kaaba, (Arabic for cube) is located in the center of the Great Mosque of Mecca.

Muhammad may have received this information in three ways. Islam, Iman and Ihsan. Islam is the outward practice. Iman is the inward practice. Ihsan is the practice of spiritual union with the divine. Sufism, the mystical aspect of Islam is based on Ihsan. Sufi’s seek the divine within. Islam may also share its roots with the mystical teachings of the Kabbalah.

Message: Our dreams are bringing important insights to us now. Journal them as often as possible, even if they seem insignificant. Writing them down is the first step to making our dreams a reality. Now is the time to dream big!

“None of you is a believer until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.” – Muhammad 

The symbol for Islam is a hilal (lunar crescent of the new moon) cradling a five-pointed star. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar the new moon represents a new month.  The star is thought to either represent the archangel Gabriel or the five pillars of Islam.  It wasn’t until 1453, when the Turks conquered Constantinople (Istanbul), that this image became the official symbol of Islam.

If you liked what you read and want more... you may be interested in having the actual guidebook and card deck. The 134 page full-color book is sold separately from the cards. My goal is to find a publisher who can offer this as a set. In the meantime, you can purchase either the book or cards via these links. Thank you for your support. Laural

Mandala Chakra book available at: Amazon

Mandala Chakra card deck available at: Printers Studio

If you wish to gift one of my mandalas to a friend or hang in your home or office they are available in my online gallery: Ink Drop Arthaus

Photo by – Nina Riel from Shuffle Tarot.

For more information visit: lauralwauters.com